Decorative shelf covering



Jan. 17,1939. 5. L. SMITH 2,144,513

DECORATIVE SHELF COVERING Filgd Sept. 8, 1956 Patented Jan. 17,

' PATENT OFFICE "DECORATIVE SHELF covsmse Gertrude Smith, Los Angeles, Calif. Application September 8, Serial No. 99,749

3 Claims.

combine a sheet or strip of thin flexible material suchas paper, and a narrower strip of flexible material, preferably moisture-proof, so as to form a decorative cover for shelves and the like.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a shelf covering member of the character referredto wherein the decorative member or strip is a pplied to the sheet thatfcovers the shelf along the edge that overlies the front edge of the shelf soas to present a neat and finished appearance.

A further object of my invention is to provide V a relatively simple, practical and inexpensive shelf cover that maybe produced and sold in elongated pieces, either rolled or folded, and

which pieces may be out on transverse lines so as to fit the shelf to which the decorative coverings are applied.

A further object of my invention is to constructthe decorative element of the shelf covering' from moisture-proof material such as Cellophane, thin sheet Celluloid, waxed or oiled paper, rubber or rubberized fabric in order that said decorative member maybe easily andquickly cleansed by the application of] a damp cloth, sponge or brush, and thus enabling the said decorative member to be maintained in condition so as to present a neat, clean and finished ap pear claimed and illustrated drawing in which:

1 T ig. 1 is a perspective in the accompanying View with parts in secti on and showing one form of thedecorative shelf covering. in position upon a shelf.v

Figs. 2, ,3, 4 and 5 are perspective views of the short sections of different forms of the decorative members of my improved shelf ,covering.

Fig. 6 is a perspective viewof a modified form of thedecorative member and showing the same applied to the depending covering member.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are perspective views of short sections of further modified forms of decorative front edge of the shelf members as contemplated by my, invention.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are perspective views of improved shelf covering.

Referring by numeral '5 t6 tri' meann ss drawing which illustratesthe invention and various modifications thereof, 10 designates a sheet or strip of thin flexible material, such as paper, or, in some instances, oil-cloth, the length and width thereof being such as to practically cover the shelf to which the completed cover member is applied, and the front edge of this strip or sheet of thin flexible material is bent downwardly, as designated by H, so as to lie flat against the front edge of the shelf S.

Secured to the front face of the downwardly turned front edge H is the decorative member of the shelf covering, and which member may be constructed in various forms, as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 12 inclusive.

The decorative member comprises a strip l2 of moisture-proof material such as Cellophane, waxed or oiled paper, thin sheet rubber, or rubberized fabric, and said strip may be gathered, tucked, pleated, ruffled or otherwise treated so as to add to its attractive appearance, and the upper and lower edges of said strip may be scalloped, pinked or hemstitched, or otherwise decorated so as to present a neat and finished appearance.

In some instances the front pieces of the upper and lower edges of the decorative member l2 may be distinctively colored with respect to each other or with respect to the intermediate portion of the front surface of the strip so as to add to the appearance of the decorative member.

The decorative strip I2 is preferably secured to the depending front edge ll of the shelf coveringmember by a suitable adhesive that is not affected by moisture, and I prefer to .secure said strip to the front portion of the shelf covering sheet so that the upper edge of said decorative member extends slightly above the upper surface of the sheet I0, with the lower portion of the strip extending below the lower edge of the member II, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6.

Thus the front edge of the shelf to which the covering is applied and the depending front edge ll of the sheet to which the decorative member is applied, are completely hidden from View, and thus only the'decorative strip [2 is observed by a person standing in front of the shelf.

To reinforce the decorative strip l2 and to hold the gathers, pleats, folds or ruflies in the strip, a narrow strip or tape-like member l3 of moisture-proof material is secured on the front face of the decorative strip l2, preferably directly opposite, that portion of member I2 that is secured t'o thedepending member ll of the shelf covering sheet.

a 8, a single strip 28 of thin flexible moisturaproof 1 material forms the decorative member, and the;

70, upper and lower edges thereof are scalloped, as,

This reinforcing strip 13 may be colored or decorated, as desired and to conform to the color and decorations of the strip l2. 7

In Fig. 2 the decorative strip I2 is shown as being pleated vertically and the pleats held in proper position by a narrow strip 13?.

In Fig. 4 a plurality of strips {4 of different Widths are disposed one directly in front of the other and with the lower edges of said strips scalloped, as designated by l5, and the scallops" disposed'in staggered relation to add to the attractive appearance. If desired, the exposed scalloped edges of the underlying strips'may be distinctively colored.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig.

3, a pair of strips it of thin flexible moistureproof material, are arranged one directly in front of the other with the lower portions of said strips slotted vertically to form fringe I! and the fringe of the two sheets may be, if desired, distinctively shaped and colored.

In this form of decorative member a narrow tape-like reinforcing strip I8 is secured by an adhesive or otherwise tothe upper portion of the front one of the strips 16.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 7

5, a single strip 19 of thin flexible moisture-proof material has its lower portion slit vertically to form fringe 25 the lowerportion of which fringe may be scalloped or zig-zag in shape to add to the appearancethereof, and a narrow reinforcing strip 2| is secured to the upper front face of the strip l9.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 6, the decorative member that is applied to the depending front portion HIof'theshelf covering sheet it comprises a strip 22 of thin flexible mois:

ture-proof material that may be gathered or f ruffled and secured by moisture-proof adhesive to the upper and lower edges of this strip are rein-I forcing strips 23 of thin flexible moisture-proof material that are folded double so as to overlie both front and rear faces of the edges of strip. 22.

Thus the strips 23 reinforce the edges of the strip 22, and which construction is particularly desirable where the decorative strip is formed of 7 thin material such as Cellophane.

The front faces of the reinforcing strips 23 may be decorated or distinctively colored.

Secured to the front face of strip 22, just below the upper reinforcing strip 2 3, is a narrow reinforcing strip 2d of thin flexible moisture-proof material.

V In the modified construction illustrated Fig; 7, the upper and lower edgesof a thin flexible moisture-proof strip 25 are folded over onto the front face of said strip 25, thereby forming double edges, asdesignated by 26, and which construction reinforces the edges of the strip.

The front face of the folded-over portions 26 may be decorated or colored, as desired, and their edges may be scalloped or pinked to add to the decorative appearance. .In thisform of. decorative member a narrow reinforcing strip 2.? is applied to the front face of strip 25 just below and parallel with the doubled-over upper edge !2 6;

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig.

designated by 29, andportions of the frontface of the strip adjacent said scalloped edges: maybe distinctively colored or decorated.

A narrow reinforcing strip 39 of thin flexible moisture-proof material is secured to thefront face of strip 28 just belowand parallel with the upper edge thereof. r i In the modified construction illustrated in Fig.

9, a single strip 30 of thin flexible moisture-proof material has its upper and lower edges scalloped,

' as designated by 3|, and the front face of the strip adjacent said scalloped'edges may be decorated or colored as desired. This strip'30 may be gathered or ruflied and retained in such condition by a narrow reinforcing strip 32 that is secured to the front face'of strip 30 just below and parallel with the upperscalloped edge.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 7

10, a sheet of thin flexible moisture-proof mate rial is folded double to'provide'a. rear Wall 33 and,

a front wall 34, therear wall being slightly wider thanthe front wall so that aportion thereof ex-' tends above the upper edge of the front'wall and the exposed front face of the rear wall may be colored or decorated as desired.

A reinforcing strip 35 is secured to the front face of the front Wall just belowand parallel with the upper edge thereof.

In the' modifled construction illustrated in Fig. 11 a strip 36 ofthin flexible moisture-proof material has its edges folded over infront, as designated by 3?, thus reinforcing the edges of the strip and the exposed faces of these reinforcing edges may be distinctively colored or decorated. A narrow reinforcing strip'38 is secured'on'the front faceof strip 36 just below and parallel with the upper folded-over edge. 7 I

In the modified construction illu'stratedin Fig. 12 a strip 39 of thin flexiblemoistureproof material has applied to its upper and lower edges reinforcing strips 413 of thin materialfolded'double so as to overlie'the front and rear faces ofv said strip 39 and the exposed front faces of these reinforcing striped!) may be distinctively marked, shaped or colored, I a

, A'narrow reinforcing jstrip 4| is applied to the front face of strip 39 .just below and parallel with the upper one of the strips 40.

, Thus it will be seen that I have provided a deco rative shelf covering that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and Very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended. V

The combined elements constitute a flexible covering for a shelf' or the like, including the front face of the shelf and an attractive decorative strip thatextends entirely along the front edge of the shelf, and which strip adds materially to the attractive appearance of the shelf or the article of furniture to which the cover is applied.

The exposed decorative strip is formed of moisture-proof material in order that it may be readily cleansed by means of a damp cloth, sponge,

V appended'claims.

I claim asmy invention:

1. Asa new article of manufacturef a decorative strip for the'depending front portion of a shelf coveringrmember comprising a strip of thin flexible material gathered betweenits upis such that the ends of the gathers in the first per and lower edges, said gathered portion being disposed closer to the upper edge of the material than to the lower edge thereof, a reinforcing strip of thin flexible material secured to the front face of said decorative strip over the gathered portion thereof, positioned below and parallel with the upper edge of said decorative strip the width of which strip is such that the ends of the gathers in the first mentioned strip extend short distances above and below the reinforcing strip and the upper edge of which decorative strip above the reinforcing strip is distinctively shaped to produce a decorative effect.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a decorative strip for the depending front portion of a shelf covering member comprising a strip of thin flexible moisture-proof material gathered between its upper and lower edges, said gathered portion being disposed closer to the upper edge of the material than to the lower edge thereof, a reinforcing strip of thin flexible moisture-proof material secured to the front face of said decorative strip over the gathered portion, thereof, positioned below and parallel with the upper edge of said decorative strip the width of which strip mentioned strip extend short distances above and below the reinforcing strip and the lower edge of which decorative strip above the reinforcing strip is distinctively shaped to produce a decorative eifect.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a decorative strip for the depending front portion of a shelf covering member comprising a strip of thin flexible moisture-proof material gathered between its upper and lower edges, said gathered portion being disposed closer to the upper edge of the material than to the lower edge thereof, a reinforcing strip of thin flexible moisture-proof material secured to the front face of said decorative strip over the gathered portion thereof and positioned below and parallel with the upper edge of said decorative strip the width of which strip is such that the ends of the gathers in the first mentioned strip extend short distances above and below the reinforcing strip and the upper and lower edges of said decorative strip being distinctly shaped so as to produce a decorative effect.

GERTRUDE L. SMITH. 

